Paul and I walking down the street....

July 15 & 16

Thursday was great. I picked up Paul and we headed to the Parc Ciutadella... he was in a really good mood and he loved walking around the little pond with all the boats.

The park's not that big but it's nice to walk around and people watch and Paul was in such a good mood so it made it really enjoyable for both of us.

He wanted to carry around the bag... He's been doing it the last few times we've been out and I'm mad he hasn't done it the whole 2 months!!!!

The highlight was seeing Toni and Alejandro... they run from the pool club to the park and I knew they were going to be near us... and Paul was in heaven. He loves being around guys and he met Alex for the first time and he absolutely loved him. Alex is like a big kid so he was great with Paul...

It was so hard to get Paul to relax after that... he was so happy and eeing soo loud and he was red and sweaty... but I was just glad he was happy. He's had some bad days and it's wonderful to have a good one like this. When the boys jogged away he even tried to follow after them.

I took a quick nap and then headed out for the night with the boys.... lots of laughs.

On Friday I slept all morning and said my goodbyes to Leila and Ignacio around 2. They went to Switzerland for the weekend so I won't be seeing them again before I leave. It's pretty sad... when I got home from doing my errands at El Corte Inglés and L'Illa the house was empty..

Paul picked out the wonderful plane charm for me but I've been thinking about the charms ever since and I had to go get the ones I needed....

The shoe represents my grandmother who passed away a few months ago. She collected porcelain and glass shoes... so I had to get a charm for her, and it had to go BEFORE the plane. Then there's the plane... that represents Paul... and the lady showed us this red and yellow charm and said it was ugly but I've been thinking about it and I had to get it. The whole time I've been wearing red and yellow silly bandz for Spain and all my friends wear them too... They've been good luck during the World Cup. Plus the Spanish flag and Catalonian flag are red and yellow... so it fits in perfect.

I want to thank Leila and Ignacio for a wonderful time in Barcelona... I couldn't ask for anything better. They were nothing but good to me and Ignacio kept me entertained every evening with his comedy... which is in fact reality. He just speaks the truth! But I had an amazing time and I can't wait to come back... I got all my S's in Spain and I don't want them to end. Thanks Leila =)

So I picked up Paul from the bus and we went to the pool... he was in a great mood and very excited to swim. He let me sunbathe while he swam back and forth in the outside pool, which I love because there he doesn't drink the water. Then he came over and had someone else's towel around him and I quickly put it back and he laid down to take some sun with me.

We're pretty cute.

We came home a little early but he didn't mind... we walked around Mandri and got some bread from the lady who knows how much I love creme croissants, pizza, chocolate milk, ice cream, and fanta. Headed home... quick shower... and I made PIZZAAA for Paul... his favorite. He ate the whole damn thing and hardly gave me a bite. So greedy. But that food definitely got him sleepy... he laid in my bed and watched me begin to pack... and begin to cry... and he fell asleep around 9:15. It's 10:45 and he's still in my bed... he's slept through my crying.. my loud singing.. and attempt to pack. Packing is hard when you don't want to leave.

Obsessed

2 songs and videos I'm obsessed with...

This is the 2009 Summer song of Spain

This is the 2010 Summer song of Spain.... LOVE IT

The 2nd one can make me cry... It's my experience in Spain! San Juan... shoe shopping... biking... beaches... powdered pastries... all I need is a boat to take me to Menorca

July 14, 2010

My time in Barcelona is coming to an end. I've been trying to figure out a way to extend my trip by changing my flight but everything is so expensive... so I'm stuck with my departure being on Monday. Every time I thought about it today my eyes welled up. I'm not ready to leave yet!!!

Paul and I took the bus to the pool and he was great... in a happy mood and relaxed. At the club we found Toni relaxing in the sun all oiled up... well he kinda found us because anyone can hear Paul from a mile away. Paul and I got changed & headed outside... he wanted to go in the outside pool so I thought I would catch some sun with Toni. O no. As soon as I laid my towel out on the chair Paul got on it. So I pulled up another chair and the 3 of us laid out for a few minutes... Toni said something about how good Paul is when he wants to be... haha it's so true. Then Paul interrupted our tanning because he wanted me to go in the pool... I said don't you want TONI to go in the pool with you!!! Lots of nods and he turned over and started tapping Toni... hahahahah

But the outside pool is too cold and Paul wasn't behaving so I dragged him out and we all went inside. We kept Paul occupied in the deep end and it was actually quite exhausting. He was happy though, so that's what matters. He always responds to Toni when he speaks Spanish and he doesn't respond to me when I speak English! SO MEAN! He loves Toni though.. I always say to Paul "Who's handsome?!" And he always cracks up and after a few times of me saying it he points to himself... not today. Today he pointed to "Tuh"... haha sooo funny. Toni is actually really great with Paul and I'm really thankful to have him around the days that I do. Paul enjoys his company and Toni helps me keep Paul out of trouble.

We came home and Paul was exhauuuusted... had dinner, quick shower with me... well actually I showered while he lay on the bathroom floor with his head under the bath mat until I finished washing my hair and got his lazy butt up and into the shower. I told him all about our plans for tomorrow and the weekend. He likes a good conversation.

Now he's sleeping and Leila and Ignacio are out... they left me here all alone. Bored. I should eat all their cookies.... but I don't need to put on anymore Spanish pounds =)

July 13, 2010

What a hot day!!!! When I picked up Paul from school today we stopped off at home to get changed and take a cold shower... and Leila was home! So instead of heading out we got in the car and went to El Corte Inglés for Paul to pick me out a charm for my Pandora bracelet =)

After some debate... Paul made the final decision... an airplane. It's perfect... It represents to much... the Tibidabo plane... the fact that Paul is obsessed with flying on a plane and asks so much... I took a plane to get here... Paul THOUGHT we were on a plane on the way home from Sitges.... He loves planes. And with 3 options to pick from, he chose the plane. So it was meant to be. Thank you Paul (& Leila) =)

I didn't want to stay in so Paul and I took a walk... down to the metro station... and went to La Rambla. He was actually really good. We walked over the Cathedral and hopped on one of these:

It was a nice & inexpensive way to get us to Montcada, which I have a hard time finding. It was a nice romantic snuggle ride.

We explored Santa Maria Del Mar... which is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Barcelona. We even did some praying... although I couldn't get him to kneel... We just held hands and I prayed while he surveyed the scene.

Then we made our way to the Carrer de Mosques!!! I've been wanting to see this for a while... it's supposedly the smallest street in Barcelona.

Paul was very good and fun to be around... and when it was time to head home we tried to take the metro from a different spot. Turns out we had to make 2 connections... First from Jaume I to Passeig de Grácia on the 3... then we had to get on the 4 to Plaça Catalunya... then to get home we had to get on the 6 to La Bonanova. Luckily... I've mastered the metro. Unluckily... it took a lot longer than expected and Paul was exhausted when we got home.

LUCKILY... Ignacio is a PRO at putting Paul to sleep... it only took him 5 minutes when (according to him) it takes Leila & I 2 hours (which isn't true). Ignacio knows how to talk to Paul... you need to have a calm soothing voice (which means being very loud and commanding attention and answers)... and Leila and I are just too mean to him and we yell at him too much (yea right). Leila and I are soooo jealous of the great job Ignacio did with Paul. If only he would do it every night.... =)

July 11 & 12

Sunday was a HOT day so Paul & I went to the pool club. He played in the pool, ate lunch... then wanted to go home. He is always very insistent on putting his clothes on and doesnt like being in his wet bathing suit... so I got him changed and took him down to the beach despite his protests. He laid out in the sand while I looked for some seaglass... then I joined him for some sun.

I knew I should have brought 2 towels because of course he takes up the whole towel and wants to snuggle and block my sun

But he was a good snuggle monkey and in a good mood so I didn't mind

Until he decided to pour a handful of sand on my face and all in my hair. When I stood up sand literally poured out of my ear... and I was scratching it out of my hair for 3o minutes.

We went back to the pool and he swam some more until he was tired and ready to go home. Waiting for the bus I got a lot more snuggles from someone who thinks he's still light enough to be held.

But I love when he's in moods like this... it's a lot better than the mood he was in on Monday.

O WAIT! THE BEST PART! ON SUNDAY NIGHT SPAIN WON THE WORLD CUP!!!!

OLAYYY OLAY OLAY OLAYYY!

I spent the night at Toni's friend's house about 30 minutes North in the mountains and away from the city. We drank, had some delicious pasta, played cards, and swam in the pool. Lots and lots of fun and a great way to celebrate Spain's victory!!!

So Monday Paul was in a poor mood... He was great on the bus ride there so I thought it was going to be a good afternoon. He took both my headphones and listened to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra the whole ride and loved it. But he was NOT happy at the pool and stayed in the water for maybe 20 minutes... within that time he managed to untie my bathing suit twice and almost drown me when he clung to me from behind. He just wanted to put his clothes on and go home. He cried a lot and was very frustrated and it was really sad. I couldn't get him to calm down... He was actually quite good on the bus... but as soon as we got off he cried and cried again for the whole walk home and only until he had a full belly from pasta and carrot soup did he stop. Then he was in a great mood, but very very tired and ready to sleep.

Everyday is different and some days are a lot better than others. It's normal for people to have good and bad days, it's just too bad that when Paul has bad days they turn out VERY bad and it's hard to get him to calm down and relax.

July 10, 2010

Today was spent in Tarragona... a town a little over an hour South that was once inhabited by the Romans. First we went to the water park in the Port Aventura amusement park. Paul was in HEAVEN. He loved everything... we went on all the slides... more than once. Some we did together sharing a tube...

...others we went down separately. He always waited patiently until the lifeguard blew his whistle and I told him to GO GO GO! At which point he would stand up and try and get in my slide to go down with me... but I always got him to go down his own.

When I was getting him ready for one slide he was so excited that he head-butted me in the chin so hard that I thought I bit my tongue off. The first thing I did was feel around for the piece that was surely to be missing. My whole ride down the slide was in agony and I thought I was gonna come up with a mouthful of blood. I could hardly talk for 30 minutes and when I saw the damage... it's a cut the size of grain of sand.

We went on so many rides that I actually got a headache and sent Leila out from under her shaded chair (that she ran around frantically to find) to entertain Paul while I rested my poor dizzy head.

It was actually really fun. The lines were short and the wave pool was great. The lifeguards took their jobs a little too seriously... Give someone a whistle & they think they rule the pool. But Paul loved just being in the water, like always. It surprised Leila that he was ready to leave around 4... and when he wants something he keeps pestering about it until he gets it. So we packed up and headed to the town.

We were right on time to hop on the tourist train and get a nice 35 minute ride past the beach, the Roman amphitheater, and through the old Roman town that still has the original walls intact around the city. Paul enjoyed it and I loved the history. I love Romans. Paul loves ladies.

We also found a very cute statue that reminded us a lot of Paul... I actually got him to pee into the hole that I assume fills with water when the fountains are turned on... if they're ever on. Peepee boy meets Peepee statue. Perfect. (or as Iman would say... PUUUUUWWWWfeeectt)

A long, fun day.

July 9, 2010

This afternoon Leila and I got better acquainted; for those who know her profession, you understand.

I picked up Paul from the bus stop and we went to the pool. He stimmed the whole bus ride and was quite noisy, but was an angel in the pool. Giggled and enjoyed it and listened to everything I said.

On the bus ride home he was hungry so I gave him some gum... he swallowed it in 10 minutes and really REALLY wanted mine.

He's so greedy.

I made him a quick dinner since Leila had left us to fend for ourselves and he was in a really cute funny giggly mood all night.

July 8, 2010

Paul and I had a very interesting afternoon....

I picked him up from the bus and we went to the pool. He was very relaxed and very excited to swim.

He enjoyed the pool for about an hour and when I said it was time to go he didn't put up a fight. He was in a great mood and even wanted to wear my silly bandz.... which is something he NEVER wants to do. Usually he hates having bracelets on or anything that constricts him.

He was also very affectionate and was giving me lots of love and hugs and that was pretty shocking because he never really hugs me...

And on the bus... he INSISTED on holding the small green bag that contains both my cell phones, the keys to the house, and my wallet. Usually I just keep the small bag in the bigger bag and leave them on the floor by our feet, but today he wanted to help out so I let him.

We had a relaxing ride home until I noticed something odd... The man 2 seats in front of us wasn't sitting in his chair.. he was sitting on the edge of it... I looked... and he was trying to pick pocket the old man facing away from him. He saw that I saw him and he got a little nervous... and I got a LOT nervous. I didn't really know what to do but I felt VERY uncomfortable... part of me wanted to say something but who knew what would happen... Paul wouldn't be able to help me out if this guy attacked us or tried to take OUR stuff.... So I decided to get off the bus and wait for the next one. It was weird that Paul wanted to hold onto our stuff today...

We went to a small restaurant and he used the bathroom and I ordered some croquettas for him and a chicken sandwich for me (and for him since he doesn't understand that not all food belongs to him... with Paul you learn to share really quickly). We were supposed to go out to dinner tonight with Ignacio's family and I figured it would be late so it would be best to have something small so we didn't starve. In the end Paul and I didn't go out to dinner, but it was still good we stopped. He was really cute and really good and wanted a napkin tucked in to his shirt.... he actually had put it under his chin and was holding it in place before I tucked it in for him.

We got home and he was ready for bed before 9. He had spent the whole day outside at a park so he was exhausted... and still in the funniest mood. I love cute days like this =)

VIDEO!

Here's a video of Toni and I finishing the race from the 4th!

http://www.corriendovoy.com/video.php?id=256&video=16004

July 7, 2010

Well... this day started off bad and continued to be bad. At 5:30 I was woken up by this tremendous banging on my door and yelling... It was like Storm Paul had arrived and was ready to cause chaos. Ignacio yelled at him to go to bed... but he was up again at 6... and I heard this peculiar sound of someone trying to unlock my door... The little bugger took the keys from Alexia's room and unlocked my door and quickly jumped into my bed. So smart.... I waited until I thought he was asleep and crept into Alexia's bed.... and then I heard him rummaging around my room. So I gave him some food and put him back to sleep in his OWN bed. But when I got up around 8 Leila said he had been up the whole time... not a great start to the morning.

When I picked him up from the bus he was in a horrible mood. I took him home and put him in a cold shower to cool him off and gave him some ice cream. I promised him McDonalds and we headed down to the metro to explore La Rambla and surrounding areas....

These guys are always at La Rambla and they're so funny...

... So I had to get a pic with one of them!!! Paul's face is great

I had my list of places I wanted to go to so we walked around looking touristy with my map and guidebook... But we found some and I can cross them off my list... we also found some other really nice places that I had never heard of or would think to go to.

Unfortunately, Paul wasn't very cooperative and nagged me for food the whooole time. McDonalds... Ice Cream... More water... McDonalds... MORE ice cream.... everything. It was a hot day, but we were in and out of air conditioning and in the shade for most of it... he just was in a foul mood. He had a few frustrated moments and I tried to ignore his consistency with begging for food... but all in all it was a pretty difficult day. But we did get to see a lot of nice places and venture off in directions we hadn't gone yet.

And of course he got McDonalds even though I told him he wouldn't because he was being so bad

Once he was home (and had had enough McDonalds to feed a soccer team) he got a cold shower and was in a great mood. I couldn't enjoy it though because I was off to watch Spain play Germany!!!!! AND WE WON! So exciting... We celebrated by going down to Port Olympic and cooled off in the Ice BARcelona..

It was -10C in there... which for F is 14 degrees... It was pretty cold... but they give you a huge jacket and gloves to wear so it's fun. The drinks were served in ice cups and there was an ice sculpture of La Sagrada Familia... and there were a LOT of Asians when we first walked in... then they all left and it was 4 of us... and the other 2 were from Cali so it was nice to talk in English.

We walked around the rest of the bar areas and each bar has people standing outside begging you to go in... It's hard for me to say no so we went into like 4 of 5 different bars... Lots of fun in Barcelona =D

July 5 & 6

Man has it been hot in Barcelona... Since we've gotten back from the Costa Brava the heat has been almost unbearable... so Paul and I have been going to the pool everyday. The hour ride there is nice and relaxing in the AC... then the pool is refreshing... and the hour back home is a great way to waste time before bed. The ride home can either be calm (when he's tired), whiny (when he's really tired), or really giggly...

So Monday was pretty boring. I spent the evening planning out all the places I wanted to go to before leaving in 2 weeks....

Tuesday I met up with Toni around 12:30 after he got out of his English class where he's one of 2 guys with a gay teacher who prefers men with beards... and he helped me navigate to Carrer Montcada and to the Pre-Columbus Museum I've been wanting to go to. It was right across the street (well... the very small street) from the Picasso Museum which had a huuuge line... while this one we were basically the only people in there. It was small and simple but had nice pieces from all around North and South

America.. and since I love Native American history I really enjoyed this museum. Then Toni ditched me for the gym and I wandered around alone exploring more of the old city. I enjoyed a nice lemon mousse snack, saw parts of the old Roman walls that barricaded the city, and enjoyed some music...

Something really nice about Barcelona that I love is all of the live music around town... People are trying to make their living by being street entertainers but it isn't poor quality music...

And there's a lot of diversity...

I picked up Paul... well it was actually really confusing but I finally found him... and we headed to the pool. I laughed to myself when his shoe fell off on the bus and when he reached down to get it he put his hands right in the elderly lady's crotch who was sitting across from him...

He was pretty relaxed... I almost had to convince him to get in his bathing suit.

But he was actually really good and there were a lot of kids in the water and for once, no swim classes. So I got to read peacefully without having to get up and tell him to move out of the way of the little swimmers or give them their toys back.

When Paul swims... he drinks pool water. He doesn't drink ocean water since it's salty... but he chugs the chlorine down. So of course when he's done swimming he has to pee a million times... We have a schedule that works perfectly.

When he gets out, he gets changed and then pees in the bathroom near the changing area. We walk towards the exit of the CNB and he pees at the bathroom there. When we get outside he has to examine all the motorbikes... Then we walk past the bus stop to a patch of grass... well what used to be grass... hmm now that I think about it - there used to be a lot more grass when he first started peeing there.... Anyway. I make him "Water the flowers" and if I see the bus coming we run for it... but if the bus is taking a long time I make him water the flowers again.

We get on the bus... and he lasts about 15 minutes before he has to go... and we always get off at the same stop where there's a big tree for him to utilize.. and a red light so the bus is always waiting and we get to hop right back on when he's done. By then the bus is so full that we don't have seats anymore but at least I don't have to use the bottle for him to pee in. Then he holds it until we get off at our stop about 35 minutes later and he always hits the first tree he sees. We've been doing this for probably the last 1ox we've gone to the pool... it's PERFECT!

We had a nice dinner and he stayed up pretty late (1030) and I had to hurry to get ready for the night. I asked Toni to take me to Bar Marsella... it opened in 1820 and has had people like Picasso, Gaudi, and Hemingway frequent it in their day. It's popular for serving ABSENTA... Absinthe. I'm not sure it's the REAL absinthe though.. but it was fun to drink... no hallucinating for us though. It tasted JUST like the Absinte I had in America... the less potent LEGAL version... I really wanted ABSINTHE... Hmm.. Maybe i have to go to Amsterdam to hallucinate. =D We did meet 4 Americans from Cali who were quite intoxicated and loved us and want to watch the game with us tomorrow... they were quite old... but nice.

We hung out there for a while... it was very very old... the first thing Toni said was that it SMELLED old... the ceiling paint was cracking and the dust that had accumulated on the bottles around the walls was so thick you could have made a coat out of it all. But it was nice... there was no music (and a sign that said no singing)... it was a REAL bar with mean gay bartenders... they could improve on that probably. O.. and there wasn't a real door. We went around pushing glass windows until we figured out which one was the door. Bizarre.

And since we didn't see the "Green Fairy" we went to the Fairy Forest bar by La Rambla... saw some fairys there.... and called it a night.

July 3 & 4

This morning and afternoon were pretty relaxing; Paul got a nice new pair of crocs and enjoyed spending time at home. Around 4 we walked up to the Bonasport and decided to give that pool a try... the past few times weren't very successful. Today was great, though. He had the whole indoor pool to himself so he was allowed to make all the noise he wanted while I read my book. We had a nice walk home and hopped in the shower together to get ready for the night.

I find it a lot easier to just take a shower along with Paul on nights that I have to go out... he gets a good clean and gets to relax while I get a good clean as well. So fresh and so clean in so little time.

Spain played in the World Cup and I went to Alejandro's house with Toni, Juan, and Roberto.

The boys are hilarious and the game was so stressful... I'm sooo glad we won!!!!

These are people celebrating in Plaça España after the game...

Afterwards I asked Toni to take me to Mont Juïc de Nit... it was a concert from 8pm-3am with 13 stages with different types of music. All the museums and attractions were also open all night so it was really nice. We hung out at the castle and listened to flamenco. I got a nice history lesson from my professional tour guide about castles and their place in Catalan history. The flamenco performers were great... the music was happy and upbeat and it had everyone dancing. It is a music that was created by poor people... so one of the instruments used to be a drawer that was banged on... it's been upgraded and modernized but has the same idea. It was really a great experience... I saw the port at night, which is the 2nd most important in Europe, as well as the Barcelona lights under the haze.

I got home very late... about 230am.. and got woken up at 7am by Paul. I had to be up anyway since I was joining Ignacio in a race, which Toni also signed up for. We left the house at 8am and got ready for the 9am start. There were maybe 4000 people in this race and the procedes go to handicapt people. It was 10K... and I wasn't aware that Toni runs 10K once a week... so I was screwed. Ignacio was way ahead of us and Toni was much better at running than I was. I haven't really done much running since the last race kicked my butt... so I'm not in the best shape. Small kids would pass us, and I would say it's because they're young and full of energy... then the old people would pass us... of course because they have a lot more experience.......

After the 1st lap I cheated and cut through a street and waited for Toni to meet back up with me. I saw Ignacio pass while I waited... itwas very easy to spot him in his lime green amongst all the red (which was given to us to wear for this race). I thought I could run the last 3K without stopping but my body wasn't cooperating. We finished at 1:08...11 minutes after Ignacio. Thanks goes to Toni for keeping me motivated.... and Thanks goes to GOD for not letting me be one of the people passed out in the street.

My ankles were killing me all day... and I was exhausted... so we hung out at home until 4 again while Paul played with his box of old photos. We went back up to the Bonasport for another pool day, and it was pretty successful. He's been in a very bad mood all day and has been mean to all of us at home... but he enjoyed the company of the kids while I read my book.

July 1 & 2

Thursday was the last day to hang out with Alexia =(

We got up around 11 and went for a nice, hot bike ride to La Sagrada Familia

It's huge... and only going to get bigger. It's been under construdtion for 150 years and still has at least 50 to go, although it was expected to be finished by 2025. Alexia was pretty good at her Gaudi history. We walked around and spent some time in the AC of the gift shop, and decided to take our bikes on the metro home to avoid going uphill in the heat. We got in a little trouble with one of the guys working there and he tried to confiscate Paul's transportation pass... but Leila straightened it all out for us.

When I picked up Paul from his taxi ride he tried so hard to stay inside.. he loved taxis. But the temptation of the pool convinced him to come along. We met Toni at the pool club and Paul really enjoyed being tossed around by someone who actually has muscles. Eventually the pool tempted me too and I jumped in with a borrowed pair of swim shorts.

Thursday was actually Toni's birthday... so when Paul and I got home I quickly got him ready for bed and myself ready for dinner! We took some last night pictures before Toni came and picked me up.

Alexia went to England on Friday and won't be back until the 25th and I'll be gone by then. She has been a great friend and a lot like a little sister to me while I've been here. She has helped me with Paul and with finding my way around Barcelona and I'm going to miss her very much while she's gone and after I get back to the states. I'll miss our late night talks, bike rides, and many adventures.

For Toni's birthday I went to dinner with him and his friends... there was so much pasta and pizza I don't know how they ate so much... Afterwards we headed to a bar and had a few drinks until they closed at 3am... which I expected would end our night. O no. Not in Spain. We walked a few blocks down and went to a club called Razzmatazz which had techno DJs and lights and not too many people, but enough. We stayed until 5am... Needless to say I was exhausted, but happy to have been invited out. Took the metro home, got in bed at 630am when Ignacio was waking up. Spanish nights are so long...

I slept all Friday morning and afternoon with the exception of getting Paul off to school at 830 and saying bye to Alexia when she left. When I finally woke up I picked up Paul who reluctantly got out of the taxi and we spent the afternoon at the pool again with our good friend Toni. I like it when Toni joins us at the pool because then Paul has a MAN to play with, which he loves.. and Toni helps catch Paul when he tries to escape to other lanes,which I love. Friday was actually pretty normal and boring... had dinner at home alone since Leila and Ignacio were out at a party, enjoyed the soccer game, and went to bed fairly early.